Fastening device

ABSTRACT

A device for attaching items to clothing or gear including a length of material with a first end, a second end narrower than the first end, an opening near the first end of the length of material, a hole within the length of material located at the second end of the material, and a protrusion perpendicular to the plane of the length of material located between the opening near the first end of the length of material and the first end. The protrusion comprises a shaft having a head larger than the shaft, but equal to or smaller than the hole at the second end of the length of material. By folding the length of material at a tapered folding point, the second end fits through the opening near the first end allowing the protrusion to engage the hole of the second end, thus securely fastening the two ends together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/087,594 filed on Dec. 4, 2014. The content of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/087,594 filed on Dec. 4, 2014 is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the technical field of fastening devices. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of fastening devices used to secure loose items to the clothing or gear of a user.

(b) Background Art

The technical field of the present invention has long known a variety of devices that allow a person to attach loose articles to their clothing or other gear worn by the person. However, the present state of the art is such that there is a need for a simple, inexpensive, durable attachment device that attaches items to the clothing or gear of a person securely enough to avoid the items from being jarred loose or becoming detached during high-impact activities such as hiking, camping or training, including without limitation military and tactical training exercises.

Representative of the state of the art, Arajakis (U.S. Publication Number 2012/0168473) discloses an animal collar that includes a series of channels or openings along one end of a piece of strap webbing and a number of heads along the other end. The device taught by Arajakis allows the user to insert one end of the webbing through one of a plurality of openings at the other end and the heads are shaped to prevent the end from slipping back through the opening. The shortcoming of the Arajakis device is that the channels or openings constitute the only site at which one end of the device attaches to the other end, i.e., there is no additional point of attachment at which one end attaches to the other. During high impact activities, a single point of attachment is susceptible to jarring loose or becoming detached and a person could lose an item attached to their clothing or gear. Similarly, Buetell (U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,029) discloses a neck strap designed such that one end of the strap engages with a single T-shaped opening at the other end. The present invention solves the problem of providing a means to attach items to clothing or gear firmly enough to avoid the items from becoming detached during high impact activities by using two separate means of securing the ends of the device to each other.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device described in this application is an inexpensive and flexible mechanism allowing the attachment of loose items to a user's clothing or gear comprising a length of material with a first end, a second end narrower than the first end, an opening substantially near the first end of the length of material, a hole within the length of material located at the second end of the length of material, and a protrusion perpendicular to the plane of the length of material located between the opening near the first end of the length of material and the first end. The protrusion comprises a shaft having a head larger in width or diameter than the shaft, but equal to or smaller than the hole at the second end of the length of material. The protrusion is shaped such that when the length of material is folded back upon itself the second end fits through the opening near the first end allowing the protrusion of the first end to engage the hole of the second end, thus securely fastening the two ends together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the fastening device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fastening device;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the fastening device; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the fastening device with both ends engaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the disclosed device in more detail, in FIG. 1 there is shown a top plan view of one surface of a preferred embodiment of the fastening device. The device comprises a length of material 20 having a first end 10 with an opening 12, a narrower second end 11 with a hole 13, a tapered folding point 17 and a protrusion 14 located between the opening 12 and the first end 10 of the length of material 20. When the device is folded at the tapered folding point 17, the second end 11 is inserted through the opening 12 of the first end 10 allowing the protrusion 14 to fit securely into the hole 13 at the second end 11 of the length of material 20 to securely fasten the ends to one another. In a preferred embodiment of the device, the thickness of the tapered folding point 17 is 0.30 inches or less and is located at the approximate mid-point of the length of material 20. Attachment to the user's clothing or gear is accomplished by inserting the length of material 20 around an item meant to be carried by the user, inserting the second end 11 of the length of material 20 through the opening 12 in the first end 10 of the length of material 20 and then engaging the protrusion 14 in the first end 10 with the hole 13 in the second end 11 of the device such that the device wraps around both the item to be carried and a portion of the user's clothing or gear.

Referring now to the disclosed device in more detail, in FIG. 2 there is shown a side view of the device. Located near the first end 10 is a protrusion 14 perpendicular to the plane of the length of material 20 and comprising a shaft 15 and a head 16—the shaft 15 being smaller in diameter than the head 16. The second end 11 of the device is noticeably narrower than the first end 10 and it has a hole 13 (see FIG. 1) located near the second end 11 of the length of material. The protrusion 14 is located and shaped such that it fits through the hole 13 when the device is folded over at the tapered folding point 17. Because the head 16 is larger than the shaft 15, but equal or smaller than the hole 13, the insertion of the protrusion 14 into the hole 13 securely fastens the first end 10 and the second end 11 to each other.

Still referring to the disclosed device in more detail, FIG. 3 shows a bottom plan view of a second surface of a preferred embodiment of the fastening device. The device comprises a length of material 20 having a first end 10 with an opening 12, a narrower second end 11 with a hole 13, and a tapered folding point 17. When the device is folded at the tapered folding point 17, the second end 11 is inserted through the opening 12 of the first end 10 allowing the protrusion (not visible) to fit securely into the hole 13 at the second end 11 of the length of material 20 to securely fasten the ends to one another. Attachment to the user's clothing or gear is accomplished by inserting the length of material 20 around an item meant to be carried by the user, inserting the second end 11 of the material 20 through the opening 12 in the first end 10 of the length of material 20 and then engaging the protrusion (not visible) in the first end 10 with the hole 13 in the second end 11 of the device such that the device wraps around both the item to be carried and a portion of the user's clothing or gear.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the fastening device with the ends of the device fastened to each other. The length of material 20 can be wrapped around an item the user desires to carry and an article of clothing or gear to which the item is to be attached. Then the length of material 20 can be folded at the tapered folding point 17 such that the second end 11 is inserted through the opening (not visible) at the first end 10 and then the protrusion 14 is inserted into the hole (not visible), thus securely fastening the ends to each other with the length of material enclosed around the item to be carried and a loop or attachment point on the person's clothing or gear.

The advantages of the disclosed device include, without limitation, simplicity of design and construction as well as reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs. Moreover, the device described in this application provides an improved means of attaching the ends of the device to each other and thus, securing articles to a user's clothing or gear.

In a broad embodiment, the disclosed device is an attachment device that is used by inserting one end through an opening in another end and engaging the two ends using a protrusion and hole. Doing so allows for a stronger engagement between the two ends allowing the user to firmly attach objects to their clothing or gear under conditions that may otherwise make it difficult to keep items attached to clothing or gear.

Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person, the device comprising: a length of material having a first end and a narrower second end; an opening within the length of material located at the first end of the length of material; a hole within the length of material located at the narrower second end of the length of material; and a protrusion perpendicular to the plane of the length of material located at the first end of the length of material.
 2. The device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the hole located at second end of the length of material and comprises a shaft extending upward from a surface of the length of material and a head having a width or diameter greater than the shaft and less than the hole at the second end of the length of material.
 3. The device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second end of the length of material is narrower than the opening in the first end of the length of material and the protrusion is positioned at the first end such that when the second end is passed through the first end, the protrusion may engage with the hole in the second end of the length of material.
 4. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tapered folding point located between the first end and the second end.
 5. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a tapered folding point located between the first end and the second end.
 6. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a tapered folding point located between the first end and the second end.
 7. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tapered folding point is located at the midpoint of the length of material.
 8. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tapered folding point has a thickness equal to or less than 0.30 inches.
 9. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tapered folding point has a thickness equal to or less than 0.30 inches.
 10. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tapered folding point has a thickness equal to or less than 0.30 inches.
 11. A method for using a device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person comprising: providing a length of material having a first end with an opening and a protrusion at the first end and a second end having a hole configured to receive the protrusion at the first end; folding the length of material at a tapered folding point located in the length of material such that the length of material wraps around a part of another object; inserting the second end of the length of material through the opening at the first end of the length of material; engaging the protrusion at the first end with the hole at the second end.
 12. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person, the device comprising: a length of material having a first end and a narrower second end; an opening within the length of material located substantially near the first end of the length; a hole within the length of material located at the narrower second end of the length; and a protrusion perpendicular to the plane of the length of material located between the opening within the length of material and the first end of the length, the protrusion being a shaft extending upward from a surface of the length of material and having a head of larger dimension than the shaft and equal or smaller dimension than the hole at the narrower second end of the length of material.
 13. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a tapered folding point located between the first end and the second end.
 14. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 13 wherein the tapered folding point is located at the midpoint of the length of material between the first end and the second end.
 15. A device that securely attaches loose objects to the clothing or gear worn or carried by a person as claimed in claim 14 wherein the tapered folding point has a thickness equal to or less than 0.30 inches. 